ELECTRIC POWER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 59

ELECTRIC POWER.

CITY’S POLICY UNALTERED. At last week’s meeting cf the City Council Cr Begg referred to the report of a meeting at Balclutha held in connection with the proposed Electric Power Board. At the meeting, he said, there had been some very contradictory statements by the representatives of the Expansion League on the one hand and those opposed to the board on the other. He would like to 1 tear from the chairman of the Electric Power and Lighting Committee if the council had altered its policy. In discussing the question with the farmers during Show Meek iie had told them that it was the council’s intention to supply (he power direct to the Power Board. But the farmers had maintained that the council was going to supply the Balclutha Freezing- Works, and that they would have the opportunity of getting the power from the same wires. The Chairman (Cr Scott) declared that the council had in no way changed its policy. For the council’s information he might say that the committee W’us meeting tile Taieri County Council at its next meeting to discuss certain matters. There seamed to be a considerable amount of complication. The city had made an arrangement with the Government to supply power to the hoard at. a certain price and voltage when it was available. There was no doubt that a board would lie formed and that it would get its juice through the city. If, however, it was not convenient for the board to supply any consumer, he did not think that there was anything to prevent the city from supplying the power directly. The council was bound to stand up to its agreement with the Taieri County Council so long as the Taieri County Council stuck to the city. The whole position was so fraught with difficulties, said Cr Scott in conclusion, that one hesitated to say a great deal in the meantime.